2-0 Home win
Benteke 12
Bent 56
Saturday 27.10.12 12:45pm KO
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Phil Dowd is the referee.
Phil Dowd is the referee.
I cannot imagine us losing, i am already bordering on self harming. Villa 2-0 Benteke Baker. Any update on Bakers injury ?I think it is safe to say he won't be scoring any goals this Saturday judging by the look of the injury when it happened. Clark should be fit again by Saturday anyway shouldn't he?
Phil Dowd is the referee.So you can garauntee that he will stamp his personality on the game, oh dear
How long do you think it will take for 'the referee's a wanker' to ring out from the Holte?Phil Dowd is the referee.So you can garauntee that he will stamp his personality on the game, oh dear
I cannot imagine us losing, i am already bordering on self harming. Villa 2-0 Benteke Baker. Any update on Bakers injury ?I think it is safe to say he won't be scoring any goals this Saturday judging by the look of the injury when it happened. Clark should be fit again by Saturday anyway shouldn't he?
Think this will be high scoring.
4-2 win.
Was a bad twist but physio`s can work wonders and these young athletes are very resillient. plus i think Baker is better than Clark with Vlaar ......I agree and I would much rather Clark in midfield. But it seems PL prefers Clark over Baker for some reason, so if they are both fit then you would think Clark will get the nod.
A home performance akin to the games against Swansea and West Brom should see us win this one. Reckon it will be tight, but I'm going for a 2-1 win for us.
I cannot imagine us losing, i am already bordering on self harming. Villa 2-0 Benteke Baker. Any update on Bakers injury ?I think it is safe to say he won't be scoring any goals this Saturday judging by the look of the injury when it happened. Clark should be fit again by Saturday anyway shouldn't he?
Was a bad twist but physio`s can work wonders and these young athletes are very resillient. plus i think Baker is better than Clark with Vlaar ......
When is Dunne back?
When is Dunne back?
No return date yet according to Physioroom (http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php). Who or what is 'Gilmore's Groin'?
It's yet another real ale (bit like Witch's Finger, Hob Goblin and Speckled Hen).When is Dunne back?
No return date yet according to Physioroom (http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php). Who or what is 'Gilmore's Groin'?
If they're fit:
Guzan
Lowton
Vlaar
Baker
Bennett
Bannan
Ireland
KEA
Holman
Gabby
Benteke
The midfield from the Newcastle game, the strikers from the Man City game. Those are the two games for me when each department has looked most effective.
If they're fit:
Guzan
Lowton
Vlaar
Baker
Bennett
Bannan
Ireland
KEA
Holman
Gabby
Benteke
The midfield from the Newcastle game, the strikers from the Man City game. Those are the two games for me when each department has looked most effective.
Same here, but Bent instead of Gabby.
Whatever way you try and rotate our midfield the common denominator is its inferior PL quality.Unfortunately yes.
Whatever way you try and rotate our midfield the common denominator is its inferior PL quality.Unfortunately yes.
Any news on Baker?
I thought he was our best player v Fulham.
Meat and potatoes? Where's Richard Dunne when you need him?
Whatever way you try and rotate our midfield the common denominator is its inferior PL quality.Unfortunately yes.
It is a fact, unfortunately.
No, it's an opinion. It may well be true. But I think there is genuine quality in Ireland and n'zogbia. The others are ok or unproven and the former two are maddening. One proper ball winning but decent on the ball centre misfielder would make a huge difference.Whatever way you try and rotate our midfield the common denominator is its inferior PL quality.Unfortunately yes.
It is a fact, unfortunately.
"But I think there is genuine quality in Ireland and n'zogbia." is a frequently stated but puzzling assertion. Ireland's passing stats are surprisingly good - and suggests reasons as to why we missed him when he was out but he was hardly making us unbeatable when he was in. CNZ? What a waste of money.No, it's an opinion. It may well be true. But I think there is genuine quality in Ireland and n'zogbia. The others are ok or unproven and the former two are maddening. One proper ball winning but decent on the ball centre misfielder would make a huge difference.Whatever way you try and rotate our midfield the common denominator is its inferior PL quality.Unfortunately yes.
It is a fact, unfortunately.
Guzan
Lowton. Baker. Vlaar. Bennett
Ireland. Kea. Holman
Nzogbia
Weimann. Benteke
A must win game just hope it turns out better than the must win game last season against QPR!!Or the Bolton game. Lest we never forget.
If we don't win what are the odds we'll be bottom 3 come Sunday night ?
Clark and baker both struggling to be fit according to lambert this morning.
the problem is the centre of midfield. KEA and delph are like a pair of blind crabs, side-to-side, they hardly pass the ball forward.
we had possession at fulham, did nothing with it, and ending up getting done.
the problem is the centre of midfield. KEA and delph are like a pair of blind crabs, side-to-side, they hardly pass the ball forward.
we had possession at fulham, did nothing with it, and ending up getting done.
I agree , no point having possession if you are not creating with it- far too many 5 yard passes backwards and sidewards going nowhere .
the problem is the centre of midfield. KEA and delph are like a pair of blind crabs, side-to-side, they hardly pass the ball forward.
the problem is the centre of midfield. KEA and delph are like a pair of blind crabs, side-to-side, they hardly pass the ball forward.
Delph is a waste of space, but in all honesty, most of the team are pretty wanky.
Been some time since we've had such a sub-standard squad.
the problem is the centre of midfield. KEA and delph are like a pair of blind crabs, side-to-side, they hardly pass the ball forward.
Delph is a waste of space, but in all honesty, most of the team are pretty wanky.
Been some time since we've had such a sub-standard squad.
I agree, with the Delph description. We give the ball away too much in midfield as it is without him in it. If we can stop doing that we'll be OK.
Same situation its been for over 2 years, the entire defensive 'team' of 5 players i.e. back 4 and holding midfield player are shite. 3 of them are young and up and coming i.e. Lowton, Bennett and Clark but they are not on their game yet, hopefully they will get a lot better. We don't have a holding midfield player and haven't since Reo Coker left, and he was a limited one. We buy one Delph clone in Makoun, then another In KEA, lightweight centre mids that are not the type of player we have been crying out for.
1-1 by the way tomorrow.
I think Delph has done okay this season - he's gradually cutting out the schoolboy errors and has some dynamism to his play.
Funnily, from my seat behind the goal at Craven Cottage, Delph was the only player amongst the front six who did himself justice last week. He was my man of the match and also someone else behind me, who I had never met, as well.
I would agree that it wasn't saying a lot last week but he spent the entire game covering KEA's arse and with Holman seemingly knackered from his travelling for Australia and Ireland his usual infuriating self, he was fighting a one man battle.
I think he suffers a bit does young Delph, but I am not sure of the reason why. Think he has had only 30 starts or so since he came, due to a combination of injuries mainly and a bit of bad luck and I think at last this year he is showing a bit of promise. He has benefited from his first proper run in the side and I still believe there is a good player in there.
For tomorrow, I would play him and Herd in the centre to at least make sure we don't get bullied. Gabby on one wing and Holman on the other, with Bent and Benteke up front.
UTV !!!
I don't think we need two holding players in midfield, we just need to go back to what we did against Swansea and Newcastle and that's not give the other team anytime on the ball.
Another thing we could try is Holman just behind a forward, which would mean we could play a winger in a midfield with Bannan, Ireland and KEA.
N'Zog's a flake; wouldn't rely on him to put the bins out.
I don't think we need two holding players in midfield, we just need to go back to what we did against Swansea and Newcastle and that's not give the other team anytime on the ball.
Another thing we could try is Holman just behind a forward, which would mean we could play a winger in a midfield with Bannan, Ireland and KEA.
Rather see nzogbia in the role behind two forwards , benteke and Weimann have shown good movement and nzogbia has the ability to create chances , a midfield of kea Holman and ireland behind them for me .
Albrighton and bannan ,at get their chance from the bench but in all honesty I'm not sure either of them are much more than squad players and they have failed to grasp the nettle several times when given their chance.
I would quite like to see Carothers on the bench as he has impressed me a lot when I've seen him , raw but talented and confident with it.
I don't think we need two holding players in midfield, we just need to go back to what we did against Swansea and Newcastle and that's not give the other team anytime on the ball.
Another thing we could try is Holman just behind a forward, which would mean we could play a winger in a midfield with Bannan, Ireland and KEA.
Rather see nzogbia in the role behind two forwards , benteke and Weimann have shown good movement and nzogbia has the ability to create chances , a midfield of kea Holman and ireland behind them for me .
Albrighton and bannan ,at get their chance from the bench but in all honesty I'm not sure either of them are much more than squad players and they have failed to grasp the nettle several times when given their chance.
I would quite like to see Carothers on the bench as he has impressed me a lot when I've seen him , raw but talented and confident with it.
I can't remember N'zogbia creating one single chance for us since he's been here. I mean, he surely must've done, but I can't recall it. He gets the ball, his head goes down and he runs in straight lines.
I don't think we need two holding players in midfield, we just need to go back to what we did against Swansea and Newcastle and that's not give the other team anytime on the ball.
Another thing we could try is Holman just behind a forward, which would mean we could play a winger in a midfield with Bannan, Ireland and KEA.
Rather see nzogbia in the role behind two forwards , benteke and Weimann have shown good movement and nzogbia has the ability to create chances , a midfield of kea Holman and ireland behind them for me .
Albrighton and bannan ,at get their chance from the bench but in all honesty I'm not sure either of them are much more than squad players and they have failed to grasp the nettle several times when given their chance.
I would quite like to see Carothers on the bench as he has impressed me a lot when I've seen him , raw but talented and confident with it.
I can't remember N'zogbia creating one single chance for us since he's been here. I mean, he surely must've done, but I can't recall it. He gets the ball, his head goes down and he runs in straight lines.
Do not understand the critism given to KEA. He is great on the ball has one of the best records of intercepting the ball and has great ball retention.Same criticism that Petrov used to get ...
I don't think we need two holding players in midfield, we just need to go back to what we did against Swansea and Newcastle and that's not give the other team anytime on the ball.
Another thing we could try is Holman just behind a forward, which would mean we could play a winger in a midfield with Bannan, Ireland and KEA.
Rather see nzogbia in the role behind two forwards , benteke and Weimann have shown good movement and nzogbia has the ability to create chances , a midfield of kea Holman and ireland behind them for me .
Albrighton and bannan ,at get their chance from the bench but in all honesty I'm not sure either of them are much more than squad players and they have failed to grasp the nettle several times when given their chance.
I would quite like to see Carothers on the bench as he has impressed me a lot when I've seen him , raw but talented and confident with it.
I can't remember N'zogbia creating one single chance for us since he's been here. I mean, he surely must've done, but I can't recall it. He gets the ball, his head goes down and he runs in straight lines.
Agreed, same with Ireland, it's very frustrating that the two players we have of genuine craft and quality in midfield/wide areas have shown so little under successive managers at Villa Park. These were the players supposedly replacing the likes of Milner/Young/Downing and I believe if they brought with them their top form from their previous clubs we would be in nowhere near the same mess as we are now, we'd probably be a comfortable mid table side at least. It must be difficult for PL to decide whether or not to stick or twist with these two, as it must be plain enough to see that a midfield comprising the likes of Herd/Delph/Bannan/Albrighton/Holman/Westwood and El Ahmadi will never be good enough to compete with the top half PL clubs. If we could get Ireland and N'Zogbia on form, along with Bent, Benteke and Gabby, supplemented by KEA/Holman/Bannan etc I think we could improve considerably and look a lot stronger force.
I like to see a left footer somewhere in midfield but for me Bannan just shades it over Delph, so I'd go
Holman Ireland KEA Bannan
N'Zogbia
Bent
With Weimann pushing N'Zog hard for his place and Benteke probably just ahead of Gabby as Bent's back up. Delph pushing Ireland hard for his place too.
I agree with that Merv, other than Zog having no competition for his place - in my view, he's one of the players who has the most to do to regain his place.
Do not understand the critism given to KEA. He is great on the ball has one of the best records of intercepting the ball and has great ball retention.Same criticism that Petrov used to get ...
We dont't rate players like tis until they're absent and then we realise what we're missing.
Quote
Glad someone else can see it. When Petrov was out we went to pieces in the middle of the park and our defence were under constant pressure. Ball retention is key to winning games. And makes the other team work harder. It also gives the defence time to organize themselves .........
N'Zogbia created our best chance against Fulham did he not?
Weimann and Benteke up front please.
And yet at Weimann's age Gabby had scored at Anfield, Goodison, Arsenal, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.
Must have imagined the two he got the other week.
Cup goals count to me. If not, somebody tell Man City they're playing at Swindon on Tuesday.
I think Gabby is a very lucky boy to keep being picked (if the early team news is true). Other than Man City the other week, he's done next to nothing for a long time.
I think Gabby is a very lucky boy to keep being picked (if the early team news is true). Other than Man City the other week, he's done next to nothing for a long time.
Gabby's pace in itself creates openings for others. And he adds to the team even when he's not scoring.
I shall be interrupting the otherwise continual joy that is my holiday to watch this in a bar on the sea front tomorrow.
The bar that shows the football was full of fans of Ajax, Real and Borussia Dortmund when I was there on CL night the other day. Tomorrow lunchtime I imagine it'll be just me, a tutting Mrs Walnuts aggressively turning the pages of a copy of Grazia and a family of Norwich fans fingering each other and singing "We are Premier League"
I watched a Blues away match in a little taverna in a sleepy part of Rhodes once. It was just me and the wife, a couple of locals who like Premier League football and another couple with no interest in football who were there for lunch.
It was no score until 5 minutes from the end when Gabby popped in the winner and I took off out of my seat wailing like a banshee.
The couple had finished their meal and made a sharp exit. The wife gave me that disappointed eyebrow look thing.
The locals simply stared on agog at the previously mild mannered customer who was now running circuits round the little square in front of the restaurant, punching the air and shouting out all manner of expletives.
Not necessarily my finest hour but I enjoyed myself.
Bent dropped is the rumour
Dropped to the bench. I think it says more about Lambert's opinion of the midfield supplyline than it does about Bent, who is a proven goalscorer.Bent dropped is the rumour
I know it's early but decisions like this will have a huge bearing on the rest of the season. Now is not the time for posturing, we need goals and he is the only proven scorer we have.
I retain faith in the manager but I do fear that we are about enter the darkest point of our season, I am confident that things will pick up, but at the moment I am rather fearfull.
Draw.